diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/projects/ProjectModal.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/projects/ProjectModal.tsx
index 90d63fc..5f7e891 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/projects/ProjectModal.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/projects/ProjectModal.tsx
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ export function ProjectModal({ project, onClose }: ProjectModalProps) {
           startDate: new Date(form.startDate),
           endDate: new Date(form.endDate),
           status: form.status as unknown as ProjectStatus,
-          responsiblePerson: form.responsiblePerson.trim() || undefined,
+          responsiblePerson: form.responsiblePerson.trim(),
           ...(form.color ? { color: form.color } : {}),
           ...(form.utilizationCategoryId ? { utilizationCategoryId: form.utilizationCategoryId } : {}),
           ...(form.clientId ? { clientId: form.clientId } : {}),
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ export function ProjectModal({ project, onClose }: ProjectModalProps) {
         status: form.status as unknown as ProjectStatus,
         staffingReqs: [],
         dynamicFields: {},
-        responsiblePerson: form.responsiblePerson.trim() || undefined,
+        responsiblePerson: form.responsiblePerson.trim(),
         ...(form.color ? { color: form.color } : {}),
         ...(form.utilizationCategoryId ? { utilizationCategoryId: form.utilizationCategoryId } : {}),
         ...(form.clientId ? { clientId: form.clientId } : {}),
@@ -521,8 +521,8 @@ export function ProjectModal({ project, onClose }: ProjectModalProps) {
                 </div>
                 <div>
                   <label className={labelClass} htmlFor="responsiblePerson">
-                    Responsible Person
-                    <InfoTooltip content="Project lead or account manager responsible for this project." />
+                    Responsible Person <span className="text-red-500">*</span>
+                    <InfoTooltip content="Project lead or account manager responsible for this project. Required." />
                   </label>
                   <input
                     id="responsiblePerson"
@@ -530,6 +530,7 @@ export function ProjectModal({ project, onClose }: ProjectModalProps) {
                     value={form.responsiblePerson}
                     onChange={(e) => setField("responsiblePerson", e.target.value)}
                     placeholder="Name or EID"
+                    required
                     className={inputClass}
                   />
                 </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/projects/ProjectWizard.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/projects/ProjectWizard.tsx
index e81b108..f754202 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/projects/ProjectWizard.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/projects/ProjectWizard.tsx
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ export function ProjectWizard({ open, onClose }: ProjectWizardProps) {
         endDate: new Date(state.endDate),
         staffingReqs: state.staffingReqs,
         status: state.saveAsDraft ? ProjectStatus.DRAFT : ProjectStatus.ACTIVE,
-        responsiblePerson: state.responsiblePerson.trim() || undefined,
+        responsiblePerson: state.responsiblePerson.trim(),
         blueprintId: state.blueprintId ?? undefined,
         dynamicFields: {},
       });
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/schemas/project.schema.ts b/packages/shared/src/schemas/project.schema.ts
index d0a9b26..743024a 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/schemas/project.schema.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/schemas/project.schema.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export const CreateProjectBaseSchema = z.object({
   dynamicFields: z.record(z.string(), z.unknown()).default({}),
   blueprintId: z.string().optional(),
   status: z.nativeEnum(ProjectStatus).default(ProjectStatus.DRAFT),
-  responsiblePerson: z.string().max(200).optional(),
+  responsiblePerson: z.string().min(1, "Responsible person is required").max(200),
   color: z.string().regex(/^#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}$/, "Must be a hex color like #3b82f6").optional(),
   utilizationCategoryId: z.string().optional(),
   clientId: z.string().optional(),